Although there is great debate about how work is changing, there is a clear consensus that changes are fundamental and ongoing. The Changing Nature of Work examines the evidence for change in the world of work. The committee provides a clearly illustrated framework for understanding changes in work and these implications for analyzing the structure of occupations in both the civilian and military sectors. This volume explores the increasing demographic diversity of the workforce, the fluidity of boundaries between lines of work, the interdependent choices for how work is structured-and ultimately, the need for an integrated systematic approach to understanding how work is changing. The book offers a rich array of data and highlighted examples on: Markets, technology, and many other external conditions affecting the nature of work. Research findings on American workers and how they feel about work. Downsizing and the trend toward flatter organizational hierarchies. Autonomy, complexity, and other aspects of work structure. The committee reviews the evolution of occupational analysis and examines the effectiveness of the latest systems in characterizing current and projected changes in civilian and military work. The occupational structure and changing work requirements in the Army are presented as a case study.

'The book offers a full and wide-ranging analysis of the nature and extent of the organisational changes, and of the role played by employability in the new production contexts. Its strengths lie basically in its multidisciplinary approach, which enables the phenomenon of organisational change to be observed from different angles, and in its commitment to a balance between the pursuit of theory and its empirical underpinnings . . . In summary, this is a well-grounded and argued work, both theoretically and empirically, and will be of interest to anyone wishing to understand the complex nature of organisational change, and especially to those who, even though organisational change may not be their central object of study or concern, nonetheless seek to understand the rich and complex debate concerning processes of organisational transformation as a necessary starting point for the analysis of the broader process of transformation of a model of society.' - Amparo Serrano Pascual, Transfer 'I do not mean to propose any prescriptions for the problem of employment in our time. I leave that to the many fine specialists in the field who have contributed to this book. . . . I find this an excellent and thought-provoking volume that I hope will shed light on a theme of vital significance for people everywhere. For it is in work that people find happiness and fulfilment and meaning.' - From the preface by Carlos Cavallé, University of Navarra, Barcelona, Spain New technologies, global markets and increased competitive pressures mean that companies are having to reinvent themselves, reappraise their competitive strategies and rethink the ways in which they organize business activities. This timely book illustrates how changes in strategy can translate into organizational changes within the firm itself and can influence the relationship between the firm and their employees and collaborators. The authors provide a broad theoretical and empirical assessment of these complex changes, their effect on the nature of employment, and the consequences for both employers and employees. They develop a framework that encompasses the interaction between the strategic reactions of businesses to a changing environment and the restrictions imposed by social institutions. A key theme of the book is that we are now living in an age of transition where concepts such as job security, which have played a crucial role in society, are no longer valid. Indeed, the importance of the research presented in the book is underlined by the social and political implications such changes will undoubtedly bring. Significantly, the authors view the subject matter from an interdisciplinary perspective applying tools from the fields of organizational behavior, sociology and psychology.

The past four decades have seen unprecedented social and economic changes that have demanded a transformation in existing employee relation practices. Shifts in demographics, gender diversity, and an increased mobility of the workforce across the board has changed the landscape in which organizations operate. Against this backdrop, attitudes towards work and careers have changed, leading to different expectations of the workplace. These and other contextual changes mean that existing strategies of employee relation may no longer be effective. Critical Issues on Changing Dynamics in Employee Relations and Workforce Diversity is a collection of pioneering research that addresses the challenges and issues pertaining to the changing dynamics of employee relations and provides additional support to better deal with critical issues related to people management. While highlighting topics including employee engagement, workplace culture, and diversified workforce, this book is ideally designed for human resource managers, managers, executives, researchers, business professionals, academicians, and students seeking current studies on critical matters in employee relation techniques and practices.

This handbook provides an overview of the research on the changing nature of work and workers by marshalling interdisciplinary research to summarize the empirical evidence and provide documentation of what has actually changed. Connections are explored between the changing nature of work and macro-level trends in technological change, income inequality, global labor markets, labor unions, organizational forms, and skill polarization, among others. This edited volume also reviews evidence for changes in workers, including generational change (or lack thereof), that has accumulated across domains. Based on documented changes in work and worker behavior, the handbook derives implications for a range of management functions, such as selection, performance management, leadership, workplace ethics, and employee well-being. This evaluation of the extent of changes and their impact gives guidance on what best practices should be put in place to harness these developments to achieve success.

Not since the Industrial Revolution has the world experienced such a vast transformation in the nature of work as is now in progress. The winds of change are buffeting the terms and conditions of work, its content, and its context. The rapidity and discontinuity of these changes produce discomfort and anxiety among employees and unprecedented challenges to the leadership of organizations. What will the future hold as information technology, global competition, and the quest for efficiency and flexibility rapidly displace jobs and workers? and how can human resource scientists and professionals anticipate what lies ahead and generate better understanding of emerging work behavior?The Changing Nature of Work envisions the future nature of work, its effect on workers and organizations, and the expanded knowledge that will be needed to optimize its returns. The book examines critical post-industrial transformations in work, workers, and the experience of working and assesses the implications of those changes. It investigates what is driving change at work, what is constraining it, and where work is headed as governments, societies, and work organizations respond to its revolutionary thrust.Demonstrating that most knowledge of work life is rooted in jobs, organizations, and workers of the past, Ann Howard and her contributors call for rethinking the psychology of work. In fourteen original chapters, leading authorities within and outside industrial and organizational psychology--including job design, personnel selection, training, teamwork, organizational commitment, careers, leadership, performance appraisal, political and labor economics, sociology, and information technology--question, test, revise, and expand the current body of knowledge about work behavior.The authors explore the human side of the changing nature of work in both service and manufacturing settings and provide new directions for the work and workers of tomorrow. They probe the challenges

Work is constantly reshaped by technological progress. New ways of production are adopted, markets expand, and societies evolve. But some changes provoke more attention than others, in part due to the vast uncertainty involved in making predictions about the future. The 2019 World Development Report will study how the nature of work is changing as a result of advances in technology today. Technological progress disrupts existing systems. A new social contract is needed to smooth the transition and guard against rising inequality. Significant investments in human capital throughout a person’s lifecycle are vital to this effort. If workers are to stay competitive against machines they need to train or retool existing skills. A social protection system that includes a minimum basic level of protection for workers and citizens can complement new forms of employment. Improved private sector policies to encourage startup activity and competition can help countries compete in the digital age. Governments also need to ensure that firms pay their fair share of taxes, in part to fund this new social contract. The 2019 World Development Report presents an analysis of these issues based upon the available evidence.

Headlines frequently appear that purport to highlight the differences among workers of different generations and explain how employers can manage the wants and needs of each generation. But is each new generation really that different from previous ones? Are there fundamental differences among generations that impact how they act and interact in the workplace? Or are the perceived differences among generations simply an indicator of age-related differences between older and younger workers or a reflection of all people adapting to a changing workplace? Are Generational Categories Meaningful Distinctions for Workforce Management? reviews the state and rigor of the empirical work related to generations and assesses whether generational categories are meaningful in tackling workforce management problems. This report makes recommendations for directions for future research and improvements to employment practices.